Medical Equipment Garment T-Shirt

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a medical equipment garment worn as a concealed T-shirt comprising a body covering section. The garment is light weight consisting of a front and back bodice. The medical equipment garment T-shirt includes constructed customized encasements that consist of pockets on the upper left and right underarms. A front compartment encasement is located on the lower center front of the shirt. These encasements allow for continuous connection to life sustaining equipment which monitors a medical patient&#39;s heart pump. Life sustaining equipment fits safely and discreetly into the upper left and right pockets and front encasements that allow for continuous connection to Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) or heart pumps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The medical equipment garment T-Shirt is invented as a concealed medicalgarment to be worn by persons who have been surgically implanted withthe HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) or heart pump.The LVAD system is used for patients who have advanced heart failure andneed help pumping blood throughout the body. The system includes a smallexternal controller attached to the body by an external drive line andtwo batteries. The LVAD System weighs eight pounds. The SystemController is a small computer that controls and monitors the system'sfunction. The medical equipment that comprises the heart pump consistsof two 14 Volt Lithium (Li-Ion) batteries that power the system and canrange in size from 3″ to 6″ wide and 5″ to 10″ long. (In some cases,these dimensions vary based on the type of LVAD system) The systemfurther encompasses a System Controller which monitors the surgicallyimplanted heart pump typically ranging from 4 to 8 inches wide and 3″ to4″ long. Additionally, the system controller has two 23″ inch cables orleads that extend from the controller to the batteries that power thesystem. These power leads are exposed and can be hazardous if entangledwith outside objects.

Currently, patients who have been implanted with the LVAD or heart pumpwear an external Holster Vest to carry the equipment. The disadvantagesof wearing the Holster Vest expose the equipment and cables. Thebatteries hang from two compartments that are attached on both sides ofthe body. The external System Controller is either worn on a belt or ina carrying case around the waist. The 20′ inch cords are exposed tooutside elements and have proven to be very cumbersome, hazardous andfatal in some instances. Some patients have even cut their power leadsby becoming entangled or caught with other objects. The holster vestcauses patients to slump due to the weight of the batteries and thesystem controller and often causes one's equilibrium to be off balance.The weight of the system components is eight pounds; the weight of thesystem's components is not equally distributed which makes the patient'smobility to be compromised. The holster vest is restrictive and causesthe patient to feel inhibited. The equipment is very heavy to use whileattempting to walk or perform rehabilitation activities or simple taskssuch as using the bathroom or attempting to take sponge baths. Although,the patient's life has been saved by the heart pump; the appearance ofthe holster vest can affect a patient's self-esteem causing them to beintroverted and embarrassed to participate in social activities. Theholster fits over their clothes and is always visible. This oftenimpacts the their self esteem and causes them to be self conscious abouttheir appearance which can impede their ability to recuperate and canoften alters their mental state while wearing the vest due to and theresponses and stares from people when worn out in public. This factholds true for most of the garments made to house equipment for LVADpatients, there are different types of vests on the market designed tobe worn over the clothes that house the equipment, even police vests,however, the problem with the equipment and cords being exposed is thesame.

Thus, the medical equipment garment T-shirt was invented as a concealedgarment to house and carry all of the LVAD equipment in discreetlydesigned customized/tailored encasements and pockets. The advantages ofwearing the medical garment T-shirt is, that, it is worn under theclothes and provides the discreetness and privacy that patients deserve.The batteries fit into the upper left and right pockets and the systemcontroller fits into a front encasement that allow for continuousconnection to the HeartMate II Pump that is necessary to monitor thefunctions of the System Controller. The cords and power leads fit intothe customized pockets so that they are not seen or exposed to outsideobjects. Medical staff is able to perform complex and routine medicalprocedures and examinations without having the patient's comfort orprivacy being compromised or the equipment being exposed. Patients areable to wear the concealed medical garment T-shirt under their clothesand continue with their rehabilitation activities in the hospital andcontinue to live a normal life once released from the hospital.Additionally, patients are able to wear their clothes that they worebefore the surgery. The concealed medical equipment T-shirt provides thesecurity and discreetness that the heart patient needs to fully recoverand get back to living a normal life. The medical garment T-shirtequally distributes the weight of the system components, making itlighter than the holster vest. The medical garment T-shirt has proven tobe more functional and discreet. The patient is able to maintain theirdignity and integrity. It gives the patient the confidence that theyneed to get back to living a normal life, in additional to increasingthe quality of life for the LVAD patient. The medical garment T-shirtalso minimizes the risk of the power cords being exposed and entangledwith outside objects that could be hazardous and cause serious accidentswhen the flow of the power leads and power cords are compromised. Themedical garment T-shirt allows the patients to be more mobile withoutbeing restricted by the components of the heart pump system. The medicalgarment medical T-Shirt is the only one of its kind on the market thatis worn under the clothes, concealed and at the same time, providediscreet compartments to house all of the equipment including the powerleads and cords. For these reasons, the medical garment T-shirt wasinvented.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel,medical equipment garment, worn under the clothing as a concealedT-shirt for patients who have been implanted with the HeartMate II LeftVentricular Assist System (LVAD) or heart pump. This invention obviatesor mitigates at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided acustomized/tailored, lightweight medical equipment garment T-shirtconsisting of a front and back bodice that fits over the patient's torsoextending below the waist, including encasements that consist of pocketson the upper left and right under arm that holds two 14 Volt Lithium(Li-ion) batteries that power the LVAD or heart pump system. The frontcompartment encasement on the lower center front of the shirt holds theSystem Controller or heart monitoring device which monitors thefunctions of the LVAD or heart pump System.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a controllercompartment which houses the System Controller. The band is lined andmade with a thick canvas which allows the controller to sit stable onthe band without shifting while being worn. The controller encasementfolds downward which exposes the inside of the compartment. The insideflap of the encasement is lined with Velcro fasteners which attaches tohook and loop fasteners on the back of the compartment ensuringconcealed and stable closing of the compartment.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a frontcompartment encasement on the lower center front of the shirt whichholds the System Controller or heart monitoring device which monitorsthe functions of the LVAD or heart pump system and allows for continuousconnection to the HeartMate II Pump that is necessary to monitor thefunctions of the System Controller or monitoring device. It connects theimplanted pump to the external power sources. The controller pocket islined and constructed with a sateen fabric.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a widecompartment flap that fastens and extends over onto the battery pocketon the left side of the shirt to stabilize the system controller, whichhas two leads extending from the controller which are approximately 20″long and hold the power leads and power cords that flow into the batterypockets. These power leads/cords extend from the LVAD patient's body andare attached to the batteries providing power for the pump that isattached to the person at all times.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided two BatteryPockets located on each side of the shirt. The pockets hold the two 14Volt-Lithium Batteries that power the LVAD or heart pump system. Thepockets are made out of a polyester or comparable fabric doubled fordurability and reinforcement. They are double-stitched and sewn at theseam on each side of the shirt. The pockets are placed downward,slightly from the under arm hole of the shirt. The battery pockets areapproximately 6″ wide×10″ long. The battery pockets vary in diameterbased on the type of LVAD system that is implanted inside of the heart.The battery pockets are designed for the batteries to have easy entryinto the pockets from the controller compartment which is placedslightly below the battery pockets. The batteries attached to batteryclips fit into the pockets along with the battery power leads or cords.The left battery pocket has two Velcro fasteners on the top and thecontroller flap has Velcro fasteners on the back. This flap closes overthe power leads and power cord that lead to the battery pockets.

In another embodiment there is provided a flap on the left side of theshirt which extends over a slit that allows entrance and exit of thesystem controller. The slit is closed by a Velcro fastener at the bottomof the shirt that fully closes the shirt. The slit is adjacent to thecontroller pocket allowing for exit and easy access of the Percutaneousleads and power cords to fit into the battery pocket. This slit alsoallows an opening for the exit of the controller for entrance from theexit site from the body into the controller compartment. The power leadsflow from the controller pocket into the battery pockets secured byVelcro fasteners which provide secure closure of the batteries and roomfor the percutaneous lead and power cords.

In another embodiment there is provided a band with finger enclosuressewn on top of each battery pocket which further allows easy access forthe wearer to push the batteries and power leads inside of the pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be explained, by way of example only,with reference to certain embodiments, and the attached Figures inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a medical garment according to anembodiment of the invention

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of a medical garment according anembodiment of the invention

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a medical garment representing how itwould look when worn with heart monitoring equipment in encasementslocated on the garment according to an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a medical garment includingattachments located on the medical garment according to an embodiment ofthe invention

1. A medical garment comprising a front and a rear bodice with front and rear neck opening periphery with two arm openings on each side forming openings for the arms to extend out of the shirt. a. This medical equipment garment T-shirt is invented as a concealed medical garment to be worn under the clothing to house and carry the equipment for patients who have been implanted with the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) system or heart pump.
 2. A medical garment as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises tailored encasements consisting of pockets on the upper left and right under arms that hold two batteries that power the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) or heart pump.
 3. A medical garment as claimed in claim 2 wherein the battery pockets are fastened with Velcro hook and loop fasteners to secure the batteries or other medical equipment housed in battery pockets.
 4. A medical garment as claimed in claim 3 which further consist of a front compartment encasement on the lower center front of the garment which holds the HeartMate II (LVAD) system controller that holds and monitors the system's functions. The equipment fits safely and discreetly into pockets allowing continuous connection to the HeartMate II Pump. The front compartment pocket encasements provide secure and concealed closure of the System Controller.
 5. A medical garment as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cooperating fasteners for the front compartment encasement is secured with Velcro hook and loop type fasteners.
 6. A medical garment as claimed in claim 4 which further consist of a pocket to secure the inside of the controller pocket or compartment. The pocket is lined and constructed with a crescent shaped sateen fabric with a band that holds and stabilizes the LVAD system controller and/or monitoring device.
 7. A medical garment as claimed in claim 6 which consists of a band constructed with canvas allowing the system controller to aid in holding the controller to sit stable on the band without shifting while being worn by the patient.
 8. A medical garment as claimed in claim 7 which further comprises an inside flap located in the System Controller Compartment pocket. The inside flap is lined with fabric and fastened by a polarity of Velcro fasteners to secure the compartment.
 9. A medical garment as claimed in claim 8 further includes a portion of the left side of the garment made with a long slit adjacent to the controller pocket to allow for exit and easy access of the leads and power cords to fit into the battery pockets. The slit also allows an opening for the entrance of the controller from the exit site from the body into the controller compartment.
 10. A medical garment as claimed in claim 9 wherein a band allowing for finger enclosures to assist in opening the battery pockets. The band with finger enclosures is sewn on top of each battery pocket which further allows easy access for the patient to push the batteries and power leads inside of the constructed battery pockets.
 11. A medical garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the garment is made to specifications of a given patient. 